There are 17 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2002 Toyota Tundrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The contact, who is an independent mechanic, stated that the fuel tank had detached. The contact stated that the subframe was extremely rusted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure). The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON STATE ROAD 27, I STARTING SMELLING FUEL IN THE CABIN; WHEN I GET TO MY DESTINATION, ABOUT 7 MILES AFTER, I CAME OUT WITH THE TRUCK STILL RUNNING, NOTICE A LOT OF FUEL UNDER THE TRUCK, I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY AND THE FLOW OF FUEL GRADUALLY STOPPED.
FUEL TANK RUSTED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUST AND REPLACED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TURN, I HEARD A SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATING THE NOISE, I FOUND THE REAR STRAP THAT SECURES THE GAS TANK TO THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH. THE GAS TANK WAS LEFT HANGING BY ONLY THE FRONT STRAP. WHAT HAPPENS IF A GAS TANK FALLS OFF A VEHICLE? *TR
AS PART OF A RECALL, MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA REQUIRED FRAME REPAIR FOR DAMAGE DUE TO RUST/CORROSION, THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK WERE RUSTED AND ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STRAPS WAS MADE, THE GAS TANK WHICH WAS ALSO RUSTED AND NOT REPLACED AS PART OF RECALL WAS DAMAGED AND A GAS LEAK OCCURRED. I HAVE ALREADY BEEN FACED WITH AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A CROSS BRACE WHICH CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO RELEASE ON THE HIGHWAY; NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE FAULTY GAS TANK WILL CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE CALLED AND VISITED TOYOTA NUMEROUS TIMES TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE BUT NO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN OFFERED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE METAL FUEL TANK STRAP HAD FRACTURED AND WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, WHO DISCOVERED SEVERE RUSTING OF THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2011 AND A CORROSION PROTECTION COMPOUND WAS APPLIED TO THE FRAME BUT IT DID NOT PREVENT THE DEFECT FROM OCCURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. *TR
GAS TANK HAS RUSTED THREW, MAIN CAUSE IS ALL THE RUST FROM THE FRAME DRIPPING ONTO THE TANK AND RUSTING IT OUT. I TOLD THE DEALER IT WAS LEAKING. BUT NO SOLUTION WAS EVER OFFERED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN HE BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE FUMES IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DRY ROTTEN. THE LEAK HAD CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND ALL OVER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,500.
NO MAJOR EVENTS BUT THE PAINT BEGAN FALLING OFF MY 2002 TUNDRA IN 2009. I WAS JUST TOLD THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK IS NOW RUSTED OUT AS WELL. $900 TO REPLACE. I HAVE KEPT THIS TRUCK UP WELL. NEVER HAD A GAS TANK RUST OUT IN ANY VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT IS LEAKING GAS. INITIALLY I NOTICED A FUEL SMELL WHEN I WALKED BY THE TRUCK WHICH PROGRESSED TO SEEING FUEL ON THE GROUND. IF I PUT TOO MUCH GAS IN THE TRUCK, OVER 1/2 TANK, YOU CAN SEE THE FUEL LEAKING THROUGH THE 4X4 FUEL TANK PROTECTIVE COVER. I HAD THE TRUCK PUT ON A LIFT AND WAS TOLD THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE SEAM OF THE TANK. I RECENTLY TOOK MY TRUCK TO TOYOTA IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL RE:EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST AND MY TRUCK PASSED THAT INSPECTION. I HAVE LESS THAN 51,000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE LIVED IN MA FOR 22 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A FUEL TANK PROBLEM. ON 04/06/10 I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A REQUIRED YEARLY INSPECTION. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE GARAGE TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING OTHER OWNERS REPORTS ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING LEAKING FUEL TANKS. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT AFTERMARKET GAS TANKS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL/YEAR SO I MUST HAVE TOYOTA EITHER DO THE WORK, OR MINIMALLY, GET THE PART FROM THEM. BASED ON THEIR RECENT REPUTATION, I AM NOT THRILLED ABOUT TAKING MY TRUCK BACK TO THEM. I HAVE 60 DAYS FROM THE FAILURE DATE TO GET IT REPAIRED AND REINSPECTED TO AVOID LOSING MY REGISTRATION! I NEED THIS TRUCK TO BE SAFE FOR ME AND ALL THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT I ENCOUNTER. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY CONCERN? *TR
THE FILL NECK ON THE GAS TANK IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT GAS INTO MY TRUCK. I MUST USE A SCREWDRIVER AT TIMES TO FILL MY GAS TANK. I FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AT A SERVICE STATION, BECAUSE THAT IF A SPARK FROM THE SCREWDRIVER BEING FORCED INTO THE FILL NECK COULD IGNITE THE FUMES. *TR
MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER A LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL DUE TO RUST/ROT. DURING THE DEALERS INSPECTION, THEY ALSO NOTED A GAS SMELL AND SUSPECT THAT THE GAS TANK OR GAS LINES ARE LEAKING ALSO. THE DEALER DID A FRAME INSPECTION AND WHILE THE WHOLE FRAME IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED, THE FRAME PASSED THE RECALL TEST BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN PERFORATED YET. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO EVEN REMOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL PLUG BECAUSE THE WHOLE UNIT WAS SO RUSTY. I HAVE BEEN UNDER THE TRUCK AND PERSONALLY SEEN THE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME, FUEL SYSTEM, AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. AMAZINGLY, THE BODY PANELS HAVE LITTLE OR NO RUST AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. DURING PREVIOUS DEALER VISITS WE WERE VERBALLY TOLD THAT THE RUST WAS NORMAL. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR GAS TANK/LINES AND NEW DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, ETC. WAS APPROXIMATELY $7000. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS DONE ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND WAS PLANNING ON HAVING THE TRUCK FOR A LONG TIME. IT CURRENTLY HAS 89,101 MILES ON IT. THE EXCESSIVE RUST IS NOT NORMAL AND I FEEL THAT THE FRAME AND SOME ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS ARE DEFECTIVE. I FEEL THAT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THESE DEFECTS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I'M GUESSING THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SELL AND IF I DID, IT WOULD BE AT A GREATLY REDUCED VALUE. I PURCHASED A TOYOTA TRUCK BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION FOR BUILDING LONG LASTING, HIGH QUALITY VEHICLES. I FEEL THAT IN LIGHT OF THESE DEFECTS THAT THEY MISREPRESENTED THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
TOP OF GAS TANK RUSTED OUT AND WHOLE HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2009 ON MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. COST ABOUT $700.00. PROBLEM WAS NOTICED BY STRONG SMELL OF GAS AFTER FILL UP OF TANK. *TR
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT MY 2002 TOYOTA MAY BE RECALLED DUE TO THE SPARE TIRE MOUNTING BEING RUSTED. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE THE GAS TANK THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND FUEL LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE TOYOTA RELIABILITY REPUTATION. WOULD YOU PLEASE REVIEW THE FREQUENCY OF RUST ON THESE AREAS AND ISSUE WHAT EVER RECALLS APPROPRIATE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THERE WAS ALSO A FUEL LEAK ON THE SEAM OF THE FUEL TANK. THE SERVICE AND PARKING BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE OXYGEN SENSOR FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NON-REPAIRABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
AT 25000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $300 TO FIX. THE PROBLEM IS EMISSIONS RELATED AND ATTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE PART ( FUEL FILLER NECK ). THERE IS A TOYOTA TSB OUT DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026